SABECO Charts a Path to Sustainable Leadership in Vietnam

Date: November 28, 2025
Source: Vietnam Law & Legal Forum Magazine

Sustainability as a Core Competitiveness Driver

In the context of a rapidly evolving global market, sustainability has emerged as a strategic imperative rather than a passing trend. Larry Lee Chio Lim, Deputy General Director of SABECO, emphasized at the Sustainable Development 2025 Conference in Hà Nội that green manufacturing now drives long-term competitiveness and investment flows worldwide.

Global sustainable finance has hit US$5.87 trillion in 2024, with the green economy valued at $7.9 trillion by early 2025—almost 9% of listed equity markets. Importantly, consumer preferences are shifting, with 2024 studies showing willingness to pay up to 10% more for sustainable products and nearly half of consumers actively reducing their environmental footprints.

Vietnam’s Policy Alignment and Industry Responsibility

Vietnam is advancing toward its net-zero emissions goal by 2050, supported by its National Green Growth Strategy and Power Development Plan VIII. However, large-scale industry action is critical, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods and food and beverages sectors, which account for over 50% of the nation’s energy consumption.

Lim highlighted these industries as “locomotive enterprises,” whose sustainability decisions influence the broader economic transition. SABECO, with its extensive footprint of 25 breweries and over 200,000 outlets, plays a pivotal role in this systemic shift.

SABECO’s Transformative Sustainability Milestones

SABECO’s approach integrates five strategic levers:

• Energy Decarbonisation: 40.5% of production energy from renewables; rooftop solar generated 7,843 MWh in 2024; biomass boilers reduced CO2 equivalent emissions by over 7,400 tonnes.
• Circular Packaging: 100% recyclable or reusable primary packaging; 75–80% glass bottle return rates; 15% reduction in aluminium can weight since 2019.
• Water Stewardship: 7.3% reduction in water intensity; rainwater harvesting expanded; 100% wastewater compliance maintained.
• ESG Governance: Establishment of a Board-level Sustainability and Risk Management Committee; GRI-aligned ESG disclosures; zero data privacy breaches in 2024.
• Community and Supply Chain Resilience: Programs benefiting over 75,000 people, including rural electrification, youth sports engagement, and disaster relief efforts totaling VNĐ4.2 billion.

These initiatives led to a 9.3% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and enhanced operational resilience by reducing exposure to fossil fuel price volatility.

Commitment to Systemic Sustainability

Lim stressed the importance of making sustainability systemic, stating: “Sustainability only becomes real when it becomes systemic.” SABECO’s measurable impact and governance transparency establish sustainability as both a growth strategy and competitive advantage.

Future Agenda and National Implications

Looking ahead, SABECO aims to:

• Expand renewable energy integration,
• Strengthen circular economy practices and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR),
• Deepen water resource resilience,
• Share best practices industry-wide,
• Maintain transparent, responsible governance.

Lim concluded with a vision of shared responsibility: Vietnam’s future growth hinges on companies embracing transformation today to lead the green transition nationally.

Why This Matters for Sustainable Industry Advocates

SABECO’s sustainability leadership illustrates how established companies in emerging markets can embrace systemic environmental and social governance approaches to align with global green investment flows and shifting consumer demands. Its success offers a replicable model for integrating renewable energy, circular packaging, water stewardship, and governance into core business strategies.

For more insights on Vietnam’s sustainability progress and industry innovations, stay tuned to our blog dedicated to organic and responsible business transformations.

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